These two unfortunately never had the oppotunity to meet in the ring, but we do seem fortunate enough to have footage of both these guys fighting the tough durable Bobo Olsen within a few months of each other. Hoping some fellow posters can give an opinion on a head to head comparison of the two based on the footage we have here. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHyWmkph4lw[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHnEQ0sEtnE[/ame]
At their best SRR would beat Dave but the Australian would give him his most difficult night at 160! He was probably a bit slow on his feet for Ray but his explosive hands and great chin, Ray takes no chances and trains like a demon. To say Sands might go 3 rounds, shows absolute ignorance to put it nicely. Dave would have whipped Turpin, Basillo, LaMotta, Fullmer & Pender.
Dave would have whipped Turpin, Basillo, LaMotta, Fullmer & Pender.[/quote] Probably all on the same nite. The second SRR vs Gene Fullmer would have been the most likely result of a SRR vs "Going to sleep" Sandman if fought in the early 50's.
SRR had major trouble with just about every MW he ever faced, good or great (even in his prime). So I see no reason why Sands wouldn't give him the same kind of trouble that Georgie Abrams, Holly Mims and all the rest did. SRR wins, but it ain't easy.
I agree with this, i havent seen anything that would give Sands any major advantages over Robinson. Would Ray have had a tough night?... i believe so. Sands would face superior workrate and speed (of hand and foot), but as you say his solid chin and ability to box and counter then explode into offensive combinations would have held him in good steed.
In the clips Olsen had the style of boxing that suited the strengths of both Sands and Robinson, along with the close time frame i thought it was an interesting comparison between the two. If the clips can attest to one thing it's the durability of Olsen. Neither Robinson or Sands were powder puff punchers, but Bobo ploughed the distance with both of them without a hint of give. A seriously tough s.o.b.
Sands looks impressive on film ,imo I think SRR would be too much for him, but he could probably take Turpin.
could Turpin have won national titles at MW, L-HW, and HW, ALL at the time when he was still a definate MW... NO. but Sands did, I think Turpin on his Don Cockell night is fit for any middleweight, but many of them would beat him most of the times, and Dave Sands was one of them too.
Sands was special, sadly we will never know to what extent, much bigger than SRR and it would be a tall order for both as Dave fought heavyweights.
Sands was shorter than SRR and never scaled over 165lbs, so not really that much bigger. The handful of heavies he beat were a pretty mediocre bunch,imo. I would expect SRR to beat them too. Sands was out boxed by Tommy Yarosz in 1949 ,Turpin handled Yarosz easily in 1950 ,Yarosz was thrown out for excessive holding. Sands impressed me on film, I am not derogating him, but SRR is a little too good for him imo. I would give Sands an even chance against most of the other middles of that era.
sure, but as is usually the case with these unknowns, many of them were far better than immediately thought of, and especially, from overall better era's. Sands DID it, many wouldn't even try, and others wouldn't have been sanctioned to do so, not good enough. Dave Sands is fit for any MW in History, as was Turpin, but I give the edge to Sands over Turpin.
